- AFRINIC’s June 23 election was annulled when one disputed proxy vote led to full cancellation, throwing Africa’s IP governance into crisis. AFRINIC
- Cloud Innovation and ICANN warn that without transparent proxy‑vote rules and robust oversight, AFRINIC’s role in the open internet is at risk. Cloud Innovation
Election Breakdown Shows Governance Deficit
On June 23, 2025, AFRINIC attempted to hold its first hybrid board election since it was placed under court receivership in 2022. Hundreds of members across the continent participated, many of them submitting their votes via notarized proxy—common practice for smaller operators without travel capacity. Just minutes before polls closed in Mauritius, the Secretariat flagged one proxy vote as potentially unauthorized. AFRINIC staff claimed they had contacted the named proxy issuer, who allegedly denied granting the authorization.
Instead of isolating that one ballot for investigation, AFRINIC’s Nomination Committee invalidated over 800 proxy votes in total and declared the entire election void. This included hundreds of verified proxies previously accepted by the Secretariat under AFRINIC’s longstanding rules. No fraud was confirmed, and no official dispute mechanism was enacted. Members were left in the dark, with no chance to appeal. The sudden cancellation sparked outrage, especially from smaller networks and underrepresented members who rely on proxy voting to participate in governance.
Also Read: Cloud Innovation calls for AFRINIC wind-up
Also Read: What AFRINIC’s legal battle means for African internet users
From Internal Chaos to Global Alarm
The reaction from the global internet governance community was swift. On June 25, ICANN issued a formal warning, citing AFRINIC’s failure to complete its elections, internal inconsistencies in rule enforcement, and possible violations of its recognition agreement. The Number Resource Organization (NRO) echoed the concern, noting that the lack of transparency and due process undermines AFRINIC’s credibility and threatens the region’s ability to manage IP resources independently.
Cloud Innovation, AFRINIC’s largest resource member, called the cancellation “institutionally reckless.” What changed, they argued, was not the validity of the votes but the leadership’s intent. In their formal statement, they called for the court to wind up AFRINIC and transition IP management to a neutral interim entity under legal supervision. Other members, like ISPA and legacy network operators, have expressed similar frustration over selective enforcement and sudden rule changes.
At stake is more than just an election. AFRINIC’s governance troubles now cast a shadow on the larger open internet movement in Africa. Without trusted mechanisms to uphold representation, stability, and transparency, efforts to bridge the digital divide could falter. Global actors are watching closely. What began as a procedural vote challenge has evolved into a structural crisis—and it’s not clear AFRINIC can recover without a complete overhaul.